Vertical aged care in action
Yesterday Meinhardt Australia's James Hargraves explored the growing trend of higher density aged care facilities throughout Melbourne. Exploring the changing dynamics within the sector, James outlined a new model where Ageing in Place has become more apparent.
"This is driving the demand for centrally located facilities: closer to the city, closer to existing amenities and closer to the families and children of residents." Consequently vertical buildings have become more prevalent; although not hulking towers they certainly account for an increasing number of tower cranes.
Urban.com.au has chosen to highlight five of the more impressive current vertical age care/retirement designs:
619 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
- Operator: Jewish Care
- Architect: Smith + Tracey
- Ten levels at 36.3 metres
- 156 beds and active living centre, fitness and lifestyle facilities
- Medical and allied health service, employment and education centre.
- Café, convenience store, pharmacy and hairdresser servicing residents and the general public.
- Construction start 2015
This dynamic development will offer our elders the opportunity to live in state-of-the-art ‘small households’ with their own self-contained lounge, dining, kitchen and recreational facilities.
Jewish Care
97 Elgin Street, Hawthorn
- Operator: St. Joseph's Aged Care
- Architect: Edgard Pirrotta
- $35 million retirement apartment complex
- Five levels at 19.28 metres
- 70 two and three-bedroom apartments
- Construction imminent
A disused school adjacent to the site is to be converted into resident facilities including a restaurant, private dining room, lounge, library, coffee bar and billiards room, and support services. The refurbished 1908 building will integrate perfectly with the modern new apartment structure which provides additional facilities such as a theatrette, multi-purpose space and wellness centre.
Sensitive heritage and streetscape issues associated with the former school and the one-hundred-fifty-year-old St Josephs church on the site have to be addressed to ensure the contemporary apartment building complements these historic structures as well as the surrounding 19th century residential architectural style.
Buxton Construction
107-115 Andersons Creek Road, Doncaster East
- Operator: Baptcare
- Architect: Carabott Holt Turnicov
- Six buildings with 142 independent living apartments & 150 aged care beds
- 252 car parking spaces
- Resident’s community centre
It is considered that the application constitutes a well conceived architecturally interesting development...The proposal fulfils a need for additional aged care and age in place accommodation within The Pines Major Activity Centre and the Manningham municipality in general.
Manningham City Council
39 Livingstone Road, Vermont South
- Operator: BlueCross
- Architect: De Nova Group
- Part 2 and part 4 level aged care facility of 220 beds
- Part 4 and part 6 level building with 68 independent living apartments (Retirement Village).
- Lounges, communal areas, music room, commercial kitchen, hairdresser, physiotherapy
- Café, library, theatre, physic office, visiting practitioners suite, gym, hydro therapy pool
- Completion early 2015
The proposed development, together with the proposed supporting services and recreational facilities provide a complete range of services and facilities to ensure a high quality facility for future residents.
Urbis Planning Report
7-9 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield North
- Operator: Emmy Monash Aged Care
- Architect: Bates Smart
- 94 rooms over four levels
- 49 basement car parking bays
- Dining, recreation and care facilities and communal courtyards
- Construction immediate
The Shape Tomorrow consultation process highlighted our community’s desire for innovative aged care programs to be seamlessly offered in 21st century architect designed facilities in a convenient Caulfield North location.
The new Hawthorn Road development will represent uncompromising style, whilst offering extensive lifestyle options with levels of care expected by our community.
Emmy Monash Aged Care